West Coast has bounced back after last week's shock loss to Richmond, beating the winless Sydney Swans by 26 points at Domain Stadium on Thursday Night.
In a contest played with a finals-like ferocity around the ball, West Coast had to dig deep before finally outlasting the Swans in a low-scoring arm-wrestle reminiscent of the great battles between the arch-rivals from the mid-2000s.
Despite repeatedly threatening to break away from a youthful Sydney outfit, the tiring Eagles never had the game in their keeping until deep into the last term, as they finally broke away to secure a 13.13 (91) to 10.5 (65) victory.
Adam Simpson's men opened up a four-goal lead during the third quarter and – despite their short turnaround - appeared to have enough breathing space after taking an 18-point break into the final change.
But with their season seemingly on the line, the Swans threw everything at West Coast in the last stanza, with goals to Will Hayward and Jake Lloyd closing the gap to one-straight kick as anxiety swept through Domain Stadium.
However, a cool set shot from Luke Shuey (30 disposals) and curling, bouncing snap by Jeremy McGovern (two goals) gave West Coast just enough breathing space to secure a third win for the season, before Jamie Cripps (two) iced the cake.
It was a strong response from Simpson's charges after they were questioned for going missing when the heat was at its fiercest against Richmond at the MCG last Saturday.
But the injury-hit Swans – last year's losing Grand Finalists - are now remarkably left with a mountain to climb just to feature in September.
Since the introduction of the top eight in 1994, no club has reached finals after starting the season 0-4.
Not since 2009 have the powerhouse Swans missed out on post-season action and John Longmire is facing his greatest challenge after losing four-straight games in a season for the first time in his tenure.
To their credit, the Swans – who had 12 players with fewer than 50 games' experience – refused to give in all night on hostile territory and with Lance Franklin hobbled for most of the match.
Franklin ran into a brick wall named Shannon Hurn during the opening quarter, with the superstar forward immediately hunching to the ground clutching his ribs.
He struggled to get into a gallop after quarter-time in a major blow to the Swans' hopes of an upset, but still booted two majors to close to within three of the 800-goal milestone.
Another ex-Hawthorn champion, Sam Mitchell, luckily escaped serious damage after friendly fire from West Coast teammate Jack Redden in the second stanza.
The 34-year-old midfielder crumpled to the ground in agony after Redden's swinging leg collected him just above the ankle. He was helped from the ground and went to the rooms from treatment.
Mitchell recovered to play out the second half and looks like he will be available to play against his former side at the MCG next week.
The Eagles took a 39-27 lead into the long break, but inaccuracy in front of goal – they booted 5.9 to 4.3 - again haunted Adam Simpson's side.
Sydney dominated the opening exchanges and scores were level 14-all at quarter-time, but with Franklin battling the Swans struggled to find avenues to goal.
West Coast's defence has been under the microscope, but led by a superb Elliot Yeo (29 disposals) and skipper Hurn (19), the Eagles stood strong to concede their lowest score for the season.
Midfielders Shuey, Andrew Gaff (28) and Jack Redden (20) helped set the tone with their physicality, while the Eagles' forwards shared the goals around.
Josh Kennedy (two goals) worked his way into the game, while Mark LeCras' two majors doubled his career tally against the Swans and McGovern offered an aerial presence with Jack Darling (ankle) a late withdrawal.
Swans' skipper Josh Kennedy (33 touches) was outstanding all night, with strong support from Jake Lloyd (29) and Luke Parker (27), while Sam Reid tried hard to step up with Franklin struggling and Heath Grundy was a rock down back.
But the Eagles' weight of experience eventually told at home, as they notched just their second win from 11 games against their old foes.
WEST COAST 2.2 5.9 9.10 13.13 (91)
SYDNEY 2.2 4.3 7.4 10.5 (65)
GOALS
West Coast: Cripps 3, LeCras 2, Kennedy 2, Gaff 2, McGovern 2, Hill, Shuey
Sydney: Franklin 2, Hayward 2, Cunningham, Foote, Papley, Florent, Lloyd, Reid
BEST
West Coast: Shuey, Yeo, Gaff, Hurn, Priddis, Kennedy
Sydney: Kennedy, Lloyd, Parker, Grundy, marsh, Hannebery
INJURIES
West Coast: Mitchell (leg)
Sydney: Franklin (thigh)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Dalgleish, Jeffery
Official crowd: 38,065
